Copenhagen, Denmark – The Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the Kingdom of Denmark and the Nordic and Baltic States, H.E. Ambassador Margaret M. Otteskov, hosted Uganda’s celebrated athlete Joshua Cheptegei and fellow Ugandan athletes following his outstanding performance at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026, where he won a bronze medal in the Men’s Half Marathon.
On behalf of the Government of Uganda, the Ugandan Diaspora Community in Denmark and the Embassy staff, Amb. Otteskov congratulated Cheptegei on his remarkable performance and commended his discipline, resilience, determination and continued commitment to excellence in raising the Ugandan flag on the international athletics stage.
In her remarks, Amb. Otteskov recognised the contribution of Cheptegei’s coaches and technical team, sponsors and partners, fellow Ugandan athletes, the Ugandan diaspora in Denmark and across the Nordic region, as well as the Government of Uganda. She noted that the combined support of these stakeholders contributes significantly to Uganda’s participation and success in international sport.
Joshua Cheptegei expressed appreciation to Amb. Otteskov and the staff of the Uganda Embassy in Copenhagen for the gesture extended to him and the Ugandan athletics team. He called for increased and sustained investment in athletics and the sports sector generally, emphasizing that timely financial and logistical support is essential to enable Ugandan athletes to prepare adequately and deliver even better results on the international stage.
Cheptegei further emphasised that athletics provides Uganda with a unique platform for global visibility, country branding and tourism promotion. He observed that marketing Uganda internationally can be a costly undertaking, whereas success in athletics can provide the country with significant global exposure through a single performance.
He noted that whenever a Ugandan athlete wins a medal at a major international championship, the Ugandan national anthem is played, the national flag is raised and international media attention is directed towards Uganda. He underscored that this visibility makes the partnership between Uganda and its athletics fraternity particularly important in promoting the country as a destination for tourism, investment and international engagement.
Cheptegei encouraged Amb. Otteskov to continue advocating for greater investment in athletics, particularly to ensure that athletes receive timely logistical support, adequate preparation and the necessary resources to compete effectively at the highest level.
Amb. Otteskov noted that the international visibility generated by Cheptegei’s athletics achievements complements Uganda’s tourism and investment promotion efforts by showcasing the country’s natural attractions, culture, people and investment opportunities to a global audience. She encouraged young Ugandans to draw inspiration from Cheptegei’s journey, emphasizing the values of discipline, sacrifice, hard work and faith as important attributes in the pursuit of excellence.
The Amb. also commended Cheptegei’s coaches and technical team, sponsors and partners, Uganda Athletics, the Ugandan diaspora and the Government of Uganda for their respective contributions to his continued success. Amb. Otteskov reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to supporting Ugandan athletes whose achievements contribute to strengthening Uganda’s international image and inspiring future generations. She congratulated Cheptegei, Team Uganda and all those who contributed to his remarkable achievement at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026.
